One senator is worried that the escalating cost of giving Ireland postcodes could see it become the next Irish Water.

The new postcode system, ran by Eircode, will be rolled out by the middle of next year with each home getting a seven digit postcode.

The government says the new system will provide benefits for householders, businesses and State bodies.

While emergency services are also set to benefit from the accuracy of the new system.

But comparisons to Irish Water have dogged the new service - one of the people who made those those comparisons is Senator Sean Barrett.

Senator Barrett is also a member of the Oireachtas Communications Committee.

He told Newstalk Lunchtime a final figure on the costs have not been agreed.